Women's Rights in Afghanistan

Since their return to power on August 15, 2021, the Taliban have used their power to systematically erase women from all aspects of public life. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where women are prohibited from accessing most forms of educations. Women are banned from public baths, restaurants, and even parks. In December 2022, women were banned from working for international and domestic NGOs. Brave women have taken to the streets to protest these violations. However, their peaceful protests have been ruthlessly attacked by the Taliban as women protesters have been detained and tortured.

Freedom Now is working to address this situation by organizing women’s grassroots movements and engaging Western governments to hold the Taliban accountable for their international human rights obligations and ensure Afghan women can return to public life.

In July 2024, Freedom Now published Now and Then: Grassroots Activism Under the Taliban, which explores the ways in which civil society adapted to the new repressive Taliban regime and continued to promote human rights and social justice. The report is based on interviews with current and former members of Afghan civil society and comprehensive research on domestic and international law related to civil society in the country.